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Glenn takes one of my hands in both of his, his expression earnest. “Every marriage has its share of problems. I’ll be the first to admit that ours certainly does. At least we’ve recognized it and are trying to do something about it. This is the first step. This weekend is going to show us if it’s worth it to keep trying.”
After everything he’s done behind my back, seeing that woman when he knows I despised her, despise him for the lies and the deceit? He has a lot of nerve, thinking we could ever come back from that. He’s made his choice, and now he is going to have to live with it. Or die because of it, as it were.
I put on my actor’s mask, thinking I should get an award for my superior acting skills. Especially if I manage to pull this off and come out of it unscathed.
“You’re right, Glenn. We have a lot of work to do, and if we’ve come this far, then I think we can make a go of it. I’ll try if you will.”
“That’s why I’m standing here.” He smiles as he leans down and plants a sweaty kiss on my lips.
My stomach rolls, and it takes all my willpower not to scrub the moisture from my face and grimace. Instead, I look up at him with as much adoration as I can manage and allow him to take my hand and continue leading us down the path. Covertly, I turn my head when I’m sure he isn’t paying attention, and wipe my mouth on my forearm, wishing I had brought a toothbrush and some disinfecting wipes.
Twigs snap under our feet, spiders with long legs and small bodies dart across our path, and Glenn moves errant branches out of the way to clear the path for me. Birds chirp high up in the treetops, a woodpecker chisels a tree trunk somewhere nearby, and little critters rustle in the leaves on the forest floor. It all makes for a wonderful atmosphere that is relaxing and pleasant. It would be too easy to forget why I’m here and get lost in the moment.
In the distance, I can hear the water ripple, and I know we’re getting close to our old lookout point. It’s a place we discovered on our honeymoon. A weekend that I’d found devastatingly romantic. Two young adults just starting out, with hardly a penny to their name. We’d made the cabin and the forest our romantic getaway, and it had been—back then.
In a way, it was almost just as romantic and fitting that it should all end where it began.
Now that I thought about it, I know it’s the perfect setting. We’ve come full circle.
“You’re quiet.”
I look out toward where I know the water to be. Soon the trees will give way to the shallow cliff’s edge, and the stiff, cool breeze from the water will kick back at us, countering the summer heat.
“Just enjoying the moment,” I answer.
Glenn accepts that, and we continued walking, slower now, as if he, too, feels the end approaching.
“Do you remember when we first came up here?” he asks.
“Our honeymoon.”
“It was a perfect weekend, just like this one. And you were wearing that pretty yellow sundress with the flowers that made your skin glow.”
I remember that day like it was yesterday. He’d been so in love with me, and I’d been happy to be his wife, to be free of the past and all the tethers that had bound me. For the first time, I’d felt freedom, despite having committed to a lifetime of holy matrimony. At the time, it’d felt like the lesser evil.
“We were so happy then…”
I don’t offer any commentary. Why is Glenn walking down memory lane now? He had years to do this, to try to fix what he’d broken, but he was choosing this day, this moment, to try? I grow angry inside. How dare he, after putting me through years of hell, try to steal this, what should be a moment of pure bliss, from me? It just reinforces that he is still the selfish asshole he always was.
He should have made amends sooner. Now, at the eleventh hour, his attempt to suck me in with pleasant memories is far too late. My mind is made up.
The forest finally clears a path, and we step out into the fading sunlight and onto a patch of wild grasses that overlooks the babbling river Glenn had taken me fishing on once or twice. It’s calm and scenic and most importantly, private.
There isn’t another soul for as far as the eye can see.
“Mm, feel that cool air.” Glenn’s head is tilted skyward, and he releases his hand to fluff his shirt that’s clinging to his chest from sweat.
I take a moment to enjoy it myself. As much as I enjoy beautiful weather, I never much liked the summer or the heat.
“We should have brought chairs or something.”
I scan the area. Under better circumstances, I would agree. But as it was… “Well, the ground is just fine with me. Come on, let’s sit.”
I could have chosen any place in the grass, but I go for the most obvious place instead: the cliff’s edge.
Glenn’s hand shoots out. “Faith, be careful.”
Clearly, he’s afraid. This only emboldens me. Stopping a few feet short, I angle my body toward him and extend my hand. “Come on. Come sit with me.”
